Sandal construction

ABSTRACT

An improved sandal comprising in combination an upper and lower sole, a series of guys evenly distributed about the frontal periphery of said upper sole, a heel basket disposed about the rear periphery of said upper sole, and a lace threaded through said guys and said heel basket to form a basket-like interstitial webbing which not only allows the foot of the wearer maximum lateral and longitudinal binding stability by a single adjustment of a bow knot, but also allows the foot maximum freedom of function during walking or running.

United States Patent Young Apr. 2, 1974 SANDAL CONSTRUCTION 2,469,708 5 1949 Alexander 36/115 [76] vento C ifford Ke neth You g, PIG. BOX 2,590,648 3/1952 Pltz 36/! L5 Kmgs Beach Cahf' 95719 Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson [22] Filed: Dec. 5, 1972 [21] Appl. N0.: 312,427 [57] ABSTRACT R l t d Us, A li ti D t An improved sandal comprising in combination an [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 148,570, June 1, upper and lower Sole a series of guys, evenly distrib' I971 abandoned uted about the frontal periphery of sa1d upper sole, a Y heel basket disposed about the rear periphery of said [52] US. Cl. .L 36/ll.5 upper Sole, and a lace ed through said guys and 51 1111.01 A43b 3/12 Said heel basket to form a basket-"kc interstitial [58] Field of Search 36/115, 45, 2.5 R, 1 hing which not y allows the foot of the wearer ximum lateral and longitudinal binding stability by a [56] References Cited single adjustment of a bow knot, but also allows the UNITED STATES PATENTS foot maximum freedom of function during walking or runnin 2,395,767 2/1946 Sutcliffe 36/1 l.5 g 2,173,702 9/1939 Winkel .1 36/115 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures SANDAL CONSTRUCTION This is a continuation-in-part of my earlier, copending patent application, Ser. No. 148,570, filed June 1, 1971, and now abandoned.

The present invention relates to improvements in footwear.

More particularly, the present invention relates to footwear construction especially adapted to provide maximum support yet maximum freedom for the foot under running or hiking conditions, or for what might broadly be classified as walking or running conditions experienced while practicing outdoor sports.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an upper and lower sole, said upper sole having a series of guys evenly distributed about the forward portion thereof, a lace threaded through said guys to form a basket-like interstitial webbing to hold the tarsal arch of the foot of the wearer, and a heel basket composed of nylon straps provided at the rear end of the sole to hold the heel of the wearer.

Prior art sandals, on the other hand, have been characterized by tarsal arch support and heel fastening devices which are fixed or static rather than dynamic. Typically, the heel fastening device must be adjusted to the foot of the wearer by means of a strap extending transversely across the scaphoid muscle. Similarly, the metatarsal bones and supporting muscles must be wedged into some sort of fixed webbing, or the toes of wearer gripped by prefitted or adjustable loops. Though these methods hold the sole of the foot to the sole of the sandal, they often times restrict freedom of flexionof the foot and fail to give adequate lateral and longitudinal binding stability.

In addition, most prior art sandals may include either a transverse toe strap, which may or may not be adjustable, or a toe retaining webbing, which generally is not adjustable. Within the type of sandals that have a heel retaining basket there is often provided a buckle ankle strap which overlies and binds the instep to prevent the wearers heel from lifting entirely out of the heel basket of the sandal.

Although a conventional sandal of the type which provides a relatively snug. fitting toe receiving strap or webbing in conjunction with an ankle strap permits the user to walk with reasonable comfort for short distances, such an arrangement invariably permits the wearers foot to slip and slide laterally and/or longitudinally relative to the upper sole of the sandal and/or permits the heel of the wearer to lift or raise off of the upper sole within the confines of the heel basket. If the sandal has adjustable toe and ankle strap bindings, they can be tightened to minimize movement of the foot relative to the sandal but the tighter the bindings are adjusted, the more uncomfortable they are to the wearer. Further, if used in hiking, walking or'running substantial distances, the users foot swells which requires the bindings to eventually be loosened and readjusted. Loosening of the bindings, especially accompanied with normal foot perspiration, increases the degree of slippage and movement of the foot within the bindings.

Virtually all sandals will stretch when stressed continually, especially when wet after wading through streams. In conventional sandals the binding system does not allow an evenly distributed readjustment of tension. Relative to the sole, the foot must slip excessively, either forward, backward or sideways.

I have found that a sandal constructed according to the present invention andby which the users foot is secured within and by a novel lacing pattern almost completely stabilizes the wearers foot against all lateral and longitudinal slippage as well as against vertical lifting of the heel relative to the heel basket. The lacing pattern is such that it can be adjusted by merely tightening or loosening the tied ends of the lacing and in a manner that provides extreme comfort to the wearer without decreasing the desired flexibility of movement of the sole of the sandal to which the wearers foot is bound.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide maximum binding stability to the foot of the wearer yet,

at the same time, to allow his foot maximum freedom of function.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sandal having a tarsal arch support which produces uniform distribution of tension along the tarsal arch whether the foot is in motion or at rest.

Therefore, a further object of this invention is to provide a sandal which allows the foot of the wearer maximum stability and protection for arduous hiking, wading through streams, climbing or running in the mountains, and which may be conveniently readjusted throughout the entire binding system by tightening or loosening a single bow knot.

An additional advantage of the invention is to provide a sandal which permits its wearer maximum comfort and perfect fit yet need not be made in half sizes or custom designed for the wearer.

A further advantage of the present invention is to provide a sandal which possesses a storage profile of less than one inch in height, is also extremely light weight, both of which features facilitate its shipping and storage.

Yet a further advantage of the present invention is to provide a sandal which gives maximum'ventilation and exposure to the foot of the wearer during active conditions yet, at the same time, provides that foot maximum support.

These objects and advantages are accomplished by the arrangement and combination of elements herein described and, more particularly, recited in the Claims.

IN THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the sandal, FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the toe of the sandal, FIG. 3' is an enlarged sectional view along lines 3' 3 of FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 is a plan view of the heel basket of the sandal.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the sandal therein shown comprises generally a lower sole 5, upper sole l0, heel basket 15, and left guys 1A through 4A respectively, and right guys 18 through 48 respectively, through which lace 60 is drawn.

Referring particularly to FIG. 3, the forward guys 1A and 1B are depicted as exemplary of the six remaining guys which are spaced about the periphery of upper sole 10. Tabs 21 and 26 of guys 1A and 18 respectively, preferably composed of nylon or perlon, are drawn through holes punched in upper sole 10, which may be fabricated from leather or other suitable materials. After tabs 21 and 26 are bent inwardly across the lower surface of upper sole 10, lower sole 5, which is composed, for example, of rubber, is mated with upper sole and glued, sewn, or otherwise bonded into position. Rivets 22 and 23 project through upper sole 10 and tabs 21 and 26 respectively, and firmly anchor guys 1A and 1B. Guys 2A through 4A and 2B through 4B are similarly mounted. All said guys are mounted in substantial alignment with the perimeter of the foot and their loops drawn as close as possible to the upper surface of sole 5 to enhance stability, as will appear more particularly hereinafter.

Looking toward the heel portion of the sandal disclosed by FIG. 1, it will be seen that heel basket therein depicted is composed of oblique straps 70A, 65, 66 and 70B and strap 64 so arranged as to form right and left cross braces and rear center brace. One end of straps 70A, 65, 64, 66 and 708 respectively is anchored to the upper and lower soles by rivets or, alternatively, by stitching, in the same fashion as guys 1A and 1B are anchored thereto. To upper end of said straps is sewn heel band 70 which forms the upper rim of heel basket 15. Ends 75 and 80 of heel band 70 terminate in guy loops 85 and 90. Straps 70A and 70B should be so arranged that heel band 70 is of sufficient height that it rides in the hollow of the wearers ankle.

The preferred lacing pattern is disclosed in FIG. 2 to achieve the proper dynamic tarsal arch support. End 61 of lace 60 is first passed through guy 2A and then through guy 28 forming end loop 31. Having passed through guy loop 2B, end 61 is then passed through left guy 1A, forming lacing 36. End 61 is drawn back over end loop 31, through right guy 38, forming lacing 40. End 61 is further drawn through left guy 4A to form lacing 46. Finally, end 61 is passed through heel band 85 to form lacing 51.

Similarly, end 62 of lace 60 is passed under lacing 40 and under lacing 36, through right guy 1B, forming lacing 38, drawin back over lacing 36 and over lacing 40 and through left guy 3A, forming lacing 39, then drawn over lacing 46, through right guy 48, forming lacing 41, and then under lacing 51, through left guy loop 90, forming lacing 42.

End 61 and 62 respectively are thereby freed to be tied into bow knot 100 over the scaphoid muscle of the wearer.

When the foot of the wearer is in active condition, such as running or hiking, the pressure placed on bow knot 100 by the flexure of the scaphoid muscle tends to adjustably and uniformly tighten lacings 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 51 and 42 about the tarsal arch of the wearer, thereby giving the tarsal arch greater support during active conditions. At the same time, the flexure in soles l0 and 5 allow the tarsal arch of the foot natural movement without constriction. Hence, optimum support and freedom is achieved.

In essence, a sandal lacing pattern of the type herein disclosed and described maintains the wearers foot firmly stabilized against lateral and longitudinal slippage and against vertical movement of the heel relative to the sole and heel basket of the sandal. This is quite unlike the unstabilized bindings of the various types of conventional sandal with which I am familiar where there is no way to comfortably secure the foot against the heel slipping out of the basket or against the foot slipping or sliding forwardly, rearwardly or sideways relative to the sandal sole.

Having thus described the foregoing invention in some detail by way of illustration for the purpose of clarity and understanding, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the spirit of this invention as limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved lacing arrangement for footwear of the type including a flexible sole and heel support; at least three pairs of oppositely disposed right and left guys mounted adjacent opposite sides of the sole support and spaced longitudinally from each other forwardly of the heel support; a continuous lace interlaced through the guys according to the pattern whereby the forwardmost individual laces are threaded through and interconnect guys 1A-2B, 1B-2A, lA-3B and lB-3A and wherein lA-lB, 2A-2B and 3A-3B represent respectively from toe toward heel the sequentially longitudinally spaced corresponding pairs of oppositely disposed right and left guys; and a pair of guy loops carried by said heel support for lacing through and tying together the ends of the said continuous lace.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said lacing pattern further includes a lace threaded through and interconnecting guys 2A-2B.

3. The combination of claim 1 and wherein a fourth pair of guys represented in sequential order as 4A-4B are provided between guys 3A-3B and said heel support and wherein said lacing pattern further includes lacings between 2A-2B, 3A-4B and 3B-4A, and between 4A and 4B and said guy loops carried by said heel support.

4. An improved sandal of the type including a sole and heel basket affixed to one end of said sole; a plurality of pairs of guys affixed adjacent opposite sides of said sole and spaced longitudinally from each other forwardly of said heel basket; a pair of loops carried by said heel basket; and a continuous lace interconnecting said guys with said pair of loops. 

1. An improved lacing arrangement for footwear of the type including a flexible sole and heel support; at least three pairs of oppositely disposed right and left guys mounted adjacent opposite sides of the sole support and spaced longitudinally from each other forwardly of the heel support; a continuous lace interlaced through the guys according to the pattern whereby the forwardmost individual laces are threaded through and interconnect guys 1A-2B, 1B-2A, 1A-3B and 1B-3A and wherein 1A1B, 2A-2B and 3A-3B represent respectively frOm toe toward heel the sequentially longitudinally spaced corresponding pairs of oppositely disposed right and left guys; and a pair of guy loops carried by said heel support for lacing through and tying together the ends of the said continuous lace.
 2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said lacing pattern further includes a lace threaded through and interconnecting guys 2A-2B.
 3. The combination of claim 1 and wherein a fourth pair of guys represented in sequential order as 4A-4B are provided between guys 3A-3B and said heel support and wherein said lacing pattern further includes lacings between 2A-2B, 3A-4B and 3B-4A, and between 4A and 4B and said guy loops carried by said heel support.
 4. An improved sandal of the type including a sole and heel basket affixed to one end of said sole; a plurality of pairs of guys affixed adjacent opposite sides of said sole and spaced longitudinally from each other forwardly of said heel basket; a pair of loops carried by said heel basket; and a continuous lace interconnecting said guys with said pair of loops. 